USA - Outline continues its year-long 40th anniversary celebration at InfoComm 2013 (Booth 109). Formed in 1973 by Guido Noselli, a musician/engineer frustrated by the inability of sound systems at the time to deliver his performances accurately to audiences, Outline has grown to become a leading technical innovator in speaker and control system design. Capable of delivering studio-environment audio quality to live events, Outline is celebrating with the introduction of the advanced GTO C-12 Line Array Speaker System and its re-engineered DVS Powered Speaker Series at this year's show.
"At the onset of our 40th Anniversary in 2013, Outline has become the system of choice for the highly regarded Warner Theater in Washington, D.C. and the historic jazz club, Little Gem Saloon, in New Orleans," says Tom Bensen, sr. vice president and managing director of Outline North Ame
Greece - DNA Systems has recently completed the installation of multi-space audio systems in the Fougaro arts complex in Nafplion, a beautiful small port city in the eastern Peloponnese region of Greece. The systems comprise a combination of t&mSystems, Powersoft and Adamson.
Originally a tomato canning factory, the 2,500sq.m complex has been transformed and renamed Fougaro (smokestack), with reference to the building's 36m chimney. The former industrial buildings have been stylishly developed by Florica Kyriacopoulos, a businesswoman and renowned art collector. Ms. Kyriacopoulos wanted to fill a void in the local artisan market, whilst achieving her own lifelong dream to enrich the cultural life of Nafplion with a venue exclusively dedicated to creativity. The Fougaro complex includes a library, art shop, amphitheatre, arts workshop, café-bar, art spaces and a summer cin
Russia - Home of celebrated conductor Vladimir Spivakov and the National Philharmonic of Russia, Svetlanov Hall is the principal venue of Moscow's International Performing Arts Centre. To expand its range of concert fare, the 1,735-seat venue recently installed a Meyer Sound Constellation acoustic system and a reinforcement system based around MICA line array loudspeakers.
With an architectural reverberation time of 1.7 seconds, the hall suits orchestral performance well, but is less accommodating of other musical genres. Now with Constellation, Svetlanov Hall can provide the proper acoustics for pop and jazz performances including Al Di Meola and The Duke Ellington Orchestra, as well as its magnificent 5,500-pipe organ, the largest in Russia.
The dramatic improvement to Svetlanov Hall's acoustics was immediately lauded by conductors, musicians, and audience alike.
Iceland - Keiluhollin is a state-of-the-art bowling complex which was recently opened in the heart of Reykjavik, Iceland's capital. As well as its sizeable ten-pin bowling alley area, the 4,600sq.m facility also accommodates a restaurant, coffee shop and sports bar, each of which receives networked audio via the venue's centralised 20-zone AV system, at the heart of which is Peavey Commercial Audio's MediaMatrix.
Keiluhollin becomes the second major bowling complex to be opened in Reykjavik. Jakob Kristinsson, of ETOS, comments, "In 2006 I installed a non-Peavey system into another [bowling] venue, but now, seven years on, all three of the audio processors have broken down, so I knew I had to come up with a much more flexible solution this time round," he explains. "It quickly became clear that the only system that would tick all the boxes was Peavey's MediaMatrix
UAE - Melody House, distributors of HK Audio and DPA Microphones have recently announced two Certified Technical Seminars to be held during the month of June in Dubai. The HK Audio seminar will take place at the Light and Industry Unit - 14, Dubai Silicon Oasis. While the DPA Microphones seminar will take place at SAE Dubai, Knowledge Village.
The HK Audio seminar conducted between 11-12 June will focus on the history of the company, technical sessions on all the products and an in-depth hands-on for live applications. Technical sessions include HK Audio's Concert Series, Portable Series systems, amplification techniques and FirNet controller configurations. Instructors will also be open to answer any questions that the attendees may have and share their knowledge based on their experience.
The DPA Microphones seminar conducted on 18 June will cover What to expect from your
USA - Salt Lake City's 21,000-seat LDS Conference Centre, the main meeting hall for conferences of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and summer and Christmas holiday home to the famed Mormon Tabernacle Choir, recently expanded its L-Acoustics sound reinforcement system with the addition of new KARAi, SB18i and KIva arrays.
Installed by Poll Sound, L-Acoustics' local certified provider for install, rental and distribution channels, the new systems--which are primarily used for speech reinforcement and musical augmentation--complement an existing dV-DOSC and dV-SUB music reinforcement system provided by the same integration team six years ago.
According to Poll Sound general manager and lead sound system designer Deward Timothy, the most recent install is made up of two parts: an exploded centre cluster for the front lower bowl seating and a delay ring for the rear
Brazil - Wanessa Godoi Camargo Buaiz, also known simply as Wanessa, is a Brazilian pop singer-songwriter. In 2009 she released her first single Fly, featuring American rapper Ja Rule, for the album Meu Momento. The song became the most played in the country, and was nominated for Hit of the Year at the MTV Video Music Brazil Awards. DNA is her seventh studio album, and the DVD shoot for this album in HSBC Hall Sao Paulo was equipped with an MA control system consisting of one grandMA2 light console, one MA onPC command wing, one MA NPU (Network Processing Unit) and two MA VPU plus (Video Processing Unit).
Marcos Olivio, lighting designer and photographic director, stated, "We used the grandMA2 system due to its reliability. The past years working with MA products have given us a lot of confidence. The whole system offers so many benefits and it is easy
Italy - Chromlech, French manufacturers of the award-winning Gleamer low-voltage dimmer, the Jarag range and the new Elidy LED matrix projector, have announced the appointment of Clay Paky as its new exclusive distributor for Italy.
With immediate effect, Clay Paky is solely responsible for the distribution of the full range of Chromlech products across Italy, backed up by comprehensive technical and after-sales support.
"The distribution of Chromlech in Italy is a great opportunity for both companies," states Pio Nahum, Clay Paky CCO. "Chromlech products are of excellent quality, and are well suited to the image of our brand. The target markets are very similar, but we have the advantage of offering different and complementary products. In this way, we can suggest to our clients creative solutions, mutually reinforcing both company proposals."
World - Audiotech Services Ltd is supplying One Direction's 120 date Take Me Home tour with an AV control system built around Blackmagic Design infrastructure, including the Blackmagic Design ATEM 2 M/E Production Switcher with ATEM 2 M/E Broadcast Panel, Broadcast Videohub router and SmartView Duo monitor.
The concert tour consists of 120 shows in Australasia, Asia, Europe and North America, which broke records by selling more than 300,000 tickets in a single day, and includes a huge amount of video at each show. All of this is managed through a rack mounted AV control system supplied by Audiotech, providing full HD monitoring and recording, eight live camera inputs, stills playback and live HD web streaming.
Situated at the heart of the AV control system is Blackmagic's ATEM 2 M/E Production Switcher, operated using the ATEM 2 M/E Broadcast Panel, and a Blackmagic Des
USA - Just six days. That's how long it took Blake Shelton's benefit concert for Oklahoma tornado victims to go from idea to live televised event.
North American rental company Christie Lites had even less time when they got the call to help. And it was during a holiday weekend. But thanks to Christie Lites' business model, they were able to quickly prep equipment and do their part in pulling off the show.
Shelton's Healing in the Heartland: Relief Benefit Concert featured a coming together of performers and concert production vendors to help raise money for those affected by the recent storms. The telethon aired live 29 May on NBC from the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City.
Christie Lites provided the complete lighting and rigging package for the concert. Christie Lites Rental Rep Robert Roth said, "When we were asked to step up and help in this humanitar
USA/UK - Tait has provided a variety of staging, rigging and scenic elements for the Rolling Stones' 50th Anniversary worldwide tour, continuing a long-standing relationship, spanning nearly three decades, since the artists' 1994 Voodoo Lounge tour. Mark Fisher was at the helm of the set design; a visually striking stage concept with a pert sense of authenticity for the artists' famed emblem.
Tait constructed a rolling MagDeck main stage that measured 25.6m wide by 12.1m deep, which provided full utilization of space underneath for storage of backline and band gear.
A custom, tongue-shaped MagDeck runway offsets the inflatable lips and teeth that are suspended above the band. Automated by 22 Tait Smart Winches, the massive lip is made from an inflatable printed fabric and measures 24.4m wide by 3m deep by 9.1m high and weighs 270 kg.
UK - The show, which is made by 12 Yard Productions and filmed at BBC Glasgow, Pacific Quay, sees four players, known as 'usual suspects' compete for a £1,000 jackpot by achieving absolute perfection. All they have to do is separate fact from fiction.
Richard Martin Lighting (RML) provides the lights for the show, designed by LD Martin Kempton. As part of an ongoing relationship, the show is supported (whilst in Glasgow) by Tony Kennedy and his team at TSL (Technique Systems Limited).
The rig includes MAC 700, MAC 500, VL1000TS, Stage Zooms, Alpha Beam 700s, Chroma Strips and Chroma Banks.
Perfection was an instant success after it first aired in January 2011 and has now become a day time favourite in many homes.
Turkey - Organizer - a versatile, high profile event management, planning, production and technical solutions company based in Ankara, Turkey - has just made a substantial investment in new Robe moving lights ... involving 150 fixtures.
The company has a reputation for excellence, quality and delivering imaginative shows and events and this is their first purchase of Robe.
The units were delivered by Robe's Turkish distributor Atempo, and will be used to service Organizer's vibrant client base on a wide variety of productions in Turkey and internationally.
In keeping with the company's reputation for innovation and forward thinking, they wanted to invest in cutting-edge technologies that offered the most inventive and flexible possibilities both now and in the future ... "So we chose Robe," state directors Sermurat Kucukgul and Yildiray Yildiz.
UK - With only a week to go before the ABTT 2013 Theatre Show opens its doors on 12 June, all aspects of this year's show are off the scale compared to previous years, say the organisers.
The number of visitor registrations is greater than previous years; exhibitors have been on waiting lists to get the chance of occupying the last few remaining stands; the seminar programme has almost tripled in scale and required two separate spaces accommodating almost 150 people with sessions every hour from start to close on both days of the show. And the organisers have been overwhelmed by the exhibitors' news of product launches and the introduction of new products and services across the board.
Show director Roger Fox said, "We set out to make this a landmark 'theatre' exhibition for 2013, and we have been delighted with the support for the idea from the widest span of theatrical
Monaco - Used to being in front, Infiniti Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel was one of the first to try out the innovative new LSP 500 PRO PA system from audio specialist Sennheiser. The early trial of the soon-to-be-released wireless PA solution at Sebastian Vettel's Monaco Grand Prix press conference on 22 May is the latest joint activity between Infiniti Red Bull Racing and Sennheiser, which was named the team's first Audio Supplier for the 2013 Formula One season.
Infiniti Red Bull Racing, one of the first customers to try out the LSP 500 PRO, found the speed of set up and ease of use of the wireless PA system to be striking. The team deployed two speakers for the pre-race press conference, both connected seamlessly via wireless links. Commenting on the performance of the solution, Alan Peasland, head of technical partnerships at Infiniti Red Bull Racing, said: "Every
USA - Established in 1861 and one of the San Francisco Bay Area's first Jewish organizations, Temple Emanu-El describes itself as "a vibrant, musical and diverse Reform community offering meaningful worship services, lively holiday celebrations, and inclusive and affirming life-cycle events".
Temple Emanu-El's current building, dedicated in 1948, includes the Temple House social hall. Temple House activities include worship service overflow, Rock Shabbat services, wedding receptions and a variety of other events.
In the past, the Temple House suffered from poor acoustics and an aging sound system. Contractor Joe Orlando of Commercial Media Systems in Atwater, California, says the shoe-box shaped room had a half-oak floor, hard walls and stucco ceiling. Its reverb time was over two seconds and "you couldn't understand a conversation from three feet away.&q
UK - Peterborough-based Pearce Hire has reported an excellent response to their first time participation at PLASA Focus last month. This year was the first time Pearce Hire had taken part in the highly successful regional event in Leeds, presented on an annual basis by PLASA.
Over recent months, the company has committed to a bold growth strategy, which has already been set in motion with an expansion of their warehouse facilities, a considerable investment in their equipment inventory and an increase in the number of staff to facilitate the anticipated business growth.
"Our expansion plans include re-establishing lapsed contacts, as well as reaching into regional markets beyond our traditional strongholds," explains Shaun Pearce, managing director.
"A regional, cost-effective trade show such as PLASA Focus allowed us to take advantage of a well-attended netwo
UK - Surrey-based AV designer and manufacturer, Smart-e Limited, has standardised on Stardraw.com's award-winning design and documentation software, Stardraw Design 7, in order to provide a free design service to all their customers.
Smart-e specialises in the design and manufacture of high quality switching and distribution equipment for a wide range of applications including corporate communication, interactive learning, digital signage, marine, entertainment and security/monitoring. Their solution-based approach means that Smart-e is constantly looking for ways to add value for their customers and make it easier to integrate Smart-e products into their designs. Standardizing on Stardraw's SD7 to provide free block schematic installation and maintenance diagrams complete with full wiring configurations and input/output connections is a key part of this process.
UK - London's Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre (QEIICC) is one of the UK's leading corporate venues. Hosting over 400 meetings and events per year, its conference facilities have been significantly enhanced by the installation of a pair of DUGAN-MY16 automixing cards in Yamaha M7CL-48 digital mixing consoles.
Located a short distance from the Houses of Parliament, the Government-owned venue is self-funding - actually returning a dividend to the Exchequer each year. Yamaha already has a significant presence in the area, with high profile installations at nearby Westminster Abbey and Central Halls, and the DUGAN-MY16 is enjoying an equally enthusiastic reception at the QEIICC.
"We used an analogue automixer system on a few events with our older consoles, with varying degrees of success. It was quite fiddly to set up and operate," says Dan Cecchini, head of sound at
Australia - A landmark new Anolis lighting scheme has been installed to illuminate Melbourne's iconic 'Red Sticks' urban sculpture on CityLink. It is 80% more energy efficient ... and also ensures that the installation looks fantastic and crystal clear to all using the city's Tullamarine & Flemington Road Interchange.
Denton Corker Marshall's Melbourne Gateway (originally completed 1999) is described as the 'Mother of all architectural interventions' on the city's freeways.
A massive 70m yellow steel beam cantilevered at precarious angles traverses eight lanes of freeway and 39 elegant 30m high steel and concrete red sticks run north / south either side of the road over 420m, depicting the city's panache and freedom for design, style and ideas.
Transfield Services - the primary Maintenance Contractor for CityLink - approached Anolis' Australian partner, The ULA Group, with a
USA - Astera LED-Technology now has an office in the United States of America. The office is designed to better serve Astera's US and Canadian customers, and it offers the full range of wireless products, controllers and accessories.
North American customers will benefit from better customer service and improved payment options. Previously, Astera products were only available through select dealers, but now with the unveiling of their new US office, customers can order from the official Astera brand and have complete peace of mind in doing so. Customers will also benefit from the Astera after-sales service. Repairs and spare parts will be available through their online warranty system, the Astera Portal. Customers will be able to register their faulty product and communicate with their nearest service center to repair the issue.
UK - Based on a vast site in the UK's North West, Electrovision has plenty of space to grow, and that's exactly what they're doing as they continue with their expansion plans, most recently marked by a move to new offices at the group's Electrovision Campus in St. Helens.
With investment in the ongoing project now standing at £2m, including fitting the new offices and beginning work to convert the old offices to extra warehousing space, the directors are delighted with the response from staff and customers to their new 'home'.
Richard Fox, managing director of Electrovision Ltd, comments, "The move to a new building on the existing St. Helens site was planned for several years and we couldn't be happier with how smooth the transition has been with very few issues. It's given our staff a real boost, which is a great way to reward the team here for their efforts. Cust
UK - S+H Technical's new 12 mm lightweight LED screen was specified by video and visuals designer Ian Holmes for the recent UK and European leg of guitarist Steve Hackett's 2013 Genesis Revisited II world tour.
Ilfracombe, Devon-based drapes, starcloth, LED and visual effects specialist S+H has invested in a large quantity of these new LED panels which are very light in weight at just 4.5 Kgs per panel and 9.5 Kgs per square metre, which is made up from two panels. They are also quick to deploy and exceptionally user-friendly.
This multi-purpose 12 mm pitch product has been specially developed for S+H and is manufactured in China to their spec.
Holmes first used the S+H screen last year, just after the first batch was delivered, for the Kim Wilde tour, and was so impressed he decided to use it again when Steve Hackett went out.
UK - Effervescent contemporary circus troupe, No Fit State, recently welcomed the latest super agile, high performing member to its troupe: The Avolites Tiger Touch. The console combines hands on control with sophisticated cueing. So whether LDs are lighting on the fly or building sophisticated, precisely programmed shows, or even a combination of the two, its now easier than ever.
Originally conceived by lighting designer Adam Cobley, the tour lighting is taken care of by lighting programmer and re-lighter Leif Le Page, who says that fast, on the fly access to the lighting is crucial for this latest production - Bianco.
The show, inspired by José Saramago's novel The Elephant's Journey, is primarily a production staged in the air. Performers make use of all dimensions using everything from trapeze, ropes and tight wires to trampolines. Not only that the s